Learn Japanese through ancient myths retold in simple Japanese.
🌸 The Kojiki Story Series has begun!
Episode 1 was released on November 7, 2025 (JST).
New episodes will continue to be released once a week — I’ll do my best! 😊
▶️ YouTube Playlist
📘 Study PDFs on Ko-fi
What is Kojiki?
The Kojiki (古事記, “Records of Ancient Matters”) is Japan’s oldest chronicle, written in the early 8th century.
It tells the stories of how Japan and its gods were born —
from the creation of heaven and earth, to the birth of deities and legendary emperors.
These myths have deeply influenced Japanese culture, language, and traditions that continue to this day.
In this series, I retell these stories in simple, natural Japanese
so that learners can enjoy both the language and the beauty of Japan’s mythology.
🏺 Introduction
The Kojiki is Japan’s oldest record of myths and early history.
In this series, I retell each story in simple Japanese (upper beginner → lower intermediate; around CEFR A2–B1 / JLPT N3)
so learners can enjoy both the language and the culture.
You can download all scripts (with and without furigana), grammar notes, and culture explanations as study PDFs on Ko-fi.
What you’ll learn:
• Understand Japanese mythology and culture in accessible Japanese
• Build vocabulary, grammar, and reading skills (upper beginner → lower intermediate)
• Improve comprehension through both listening and reading
Note: This series is a simplified retelling of the Kojiki stories, created especially for Japanese learners.
Some names and details have been adapted or shortened to make the stories easier to understand.
🎥 Episode Index
Episodes 1–3 are free to watch on YouTube.
From Episode 4 onward, full videos and study PDFs are available exclusively on Ko-fi.
Episode 1 | What is Kojiki?
Introduction to the series & how to study
→ Watch on YouTube
→ Download Study PDF (includes full script + notes)
🟢 Free for a limited time on Ko-fi
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Episode 2 | The Birth of the Gods
Discover how the world began and the first gods were born in Japan’s creation myth.
→ Watch on YouTube
→ Download Study PDF (includes full script + notes)
🟢 Free for a limited time on Ko-fi
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Episode 3 | Izanagi and Izanami – The Birth of the Islands and Gods
Meet Izanagi and Izanami, the divine couple who created Japan’s islands and gave birth to many gods.
📅 Scheduled for release on November 15 (Sat) at 8:00 AM JST
→ Watch on YouTube
→ Download Study PDF (includes full script + notes)
🟡 Paid PDF available on Ko-fi
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🔗 Continue the Journey
The Kojiki story continues beyond Episode 3!
From Episode 4 onward, full videos and study PDFs are available on a separate page and through Ko-fi.
👉 Click here to explore Episode 4 and beyond.
Coming soon!
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🛠 Production Notes
Tools & Software
• Canva – for slides, visuals, and thumbnails
• Adobe Premiere Pro – for video editing
Illustrations & Graphics
• Adobe Stock
• MotionElements
• いらすとや etc
BGM & Sound
• BGMer etc
Other Details
• Subtitles: Japanese in the video; English and Japanese captions available on YouTube
• Level: Simplified for learners (approx. N3 / CEFR A2–B1)
📚 References
The following works were used as reference materials for this simplified retelling of the Kojiki stories:
• “Shinban Kojiki: Gendaigoyaku-tsuki”
(New Edition Kojiki with Modern Japanese Translation)
Published by KADOKAWA Corporation
• “Manga Yūyaku Nihon o Yomou: Wakaru Kojiki”
(Let’s Read Japan: Understanding the Kojiki through Manga)
Published by Nishinippon Publishing Co., Ltd.
• “Manga Omoshiroi Hodo Yoku Wakaru! Kojiki”
(The Kojiki Explained through Manga)
Published by Seitosha Co., Ltd.
• “Japanese Gods and Goddesses”
Published by Mynavi Publishing Co., Ltd.
This series is a simplified retelling created for Japanese learners.
Some names and details have been adapted or shortened to make the stories easier to understand.
💬 FAQ
1. Where can I get the scripts and study PDFs?
→ All scripts (with and without furigana) are included in the study PDFs available on Ko-fi.
Episodes 1–2 are free for a limited time, and from Episode 3 onward they will be paid.
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2. What level is this series for?
→ The stories are written in simple Japanese, suitable for lower-intermediate learners — around CEFR A2–B1 or JLPT N3 level.
It’s also helpful for upper-beginner to early-intermediate learners (roughly N4–N2 range).
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3. How should I study with the videos?
→ Recommended steps:
① Watch the video
② Read the script
③ Watch again
④ Review with the PDF
(furigana, grammar, and culture notes)
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4. The Japanese gods’ names are hard to remember! Any tips?
→ That’s totally normal! Even native speakers find the names long and similar.
Try focusing on their roles and relationships (for example, “Izanagi = creator god, husband of Izanami”)
instead of memorizing every kanji.
The PDFs also include simple notes and diagrams to help you remember them naturally.
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5. Will there be more stories after this series?
→ Yes! After completing the Kojiki series, I plan to create more storytelling videos
from Japanese legends, folktales, and classic literature.
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📢 Updates
For now, all updates will be posted here on this website.
I may share future updates on Instagram once the series grows — stay tuned!
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🔗 Quick Links
• YouTube Playlist
• Ko-fi Shop
• Contact Meg via Trust Administrative Scrivener Office